Contents

Brief History

This Unit was organized in February 1863, by consolidating the 17th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, one company from the 24th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, and two companies of the 5th Regiment Virginia Cavalry. It then disbanded as there were no members at Appomattox. Field officers: Colonels Oliver R. Funsten and Lunsford L. Lomax, Lieutenant Colonel Matt D. Ball, and Majors William H. Harness and Edward H. McDonald. Predecessor unit:17th Cavalry Battalion [also called 1st Battalion] was organized in June, 1862, with seven companies. During February, 1863, it merged into the 11th Regiment Virginia Cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver R. Funsten and Major William Patrick were in command.[1]

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

The information above is from 11th Virginia Cavalry, by Richard L. Armstrong

Other Sources

Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier or sailor. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in Virginia in the Civil War and United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 (see below).

National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.

Virginia in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Virginia, and how to find them.. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.

United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.

McDonald, William Naylor. A History of the Laurel Brigade: Originally the Ashby Cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia and Chew's Battery. n.p.: K.S. McDonald, 1907. Digital version at Internet Archive; FHL Fiche 6082784 (6 fiche).